Crossing the Creek: A Parable

#128

Friend,

Jerry wanted to cross the creek. His friend Steve had invited him to come over for the first time, and all he had to do was cross the creek between their houses.

Jerry had thrown rocks in the creek, played in the mud at the creekbed, and caught a few frogs near the creek, but he had never crossed the creek. The water seemed to be deep and there was no bridge nearby.

Steve told him about a stone pathway that he could cross, and so as Jerry walked up and down the creekbed, he saw it.

It was a crude path of stones in front of him in the water below, and he thought he could make it. Seven stones to cross the creek. Some of the stones were small, and some of the steps were big, but he knew that if he wanted to get to the other side this was the place to do it.

Jerry took a deep breath, thought of how much fun he was about to have, and when he was about to take a step, he froze. His foot was up in the air over the water, and he froze. He put his foot back down and took a few steps back to the dry grass.

He looked at the stone. Both of his feet will fit on it, and it’s not too far. He can do this. So, he got to the edge of the creekbed and took that first step: success.

The next stone was big, not too far, and that step was easy.

Then his heart sank. Now that he was closer to the third stone, it was smaller and further than it looked on the creekbed. He couldn’t get both feet on it, so his best bet would be to take the third and fourth steps together—left foot on stone 3, and an immediate right foot on stone 4.

He thought about turning back. It was so much easier to turn back. Maybe he could play with his friend later, or maybe Steve could come and visit him. Or maybe I could come back when the water is lower and easier to get across. What if I fall in the water? He reached down, felt the cool moving water, and thought, “That wouldn’t be good.”

So he decided to turn around, and go back home when he heard a voice from the other side, “Jerry! You are almost here. I want to show you something.”

Jerry took a deep breath.

The Explanation:

Taking a new journey is scary, difficult, and full of unanswerable questions. Even if the destination is enticing (Who wouldn’t want to go to Steve’s house?), the perceived perilous nature of the journey deters us. Life is safer if you never cross the creek.

I don’t know what your creek is, but I’m guessing you have one. Somewhere in your life, there is something on the other side that you want to go to, but getting there is not easy and things could go bad fairly easily.

My favorite part is the quandary on taking steps 3 and 4. Sometimes, we can take a couple of safe steps (I bought a book, I googled something, I had a conversation), but there is a time when going back is harder than going forward. If the first step is the hardest, then the point of no return is right alongside it.

In the end, Jerry received a gift, but would he accept it? He had someone encouraging him, wanting to be with him, and alongside. He was no longer alone.

Like a lot of parables, the ending is unwritten because it is up to you. Are you going to move forward, stay still, or turn back?

Let me be your friend on the other side of the creek,

“My friend, You are almost here. I want to show you something.”

Love,

Aaron